Brake-operating device for flat cars



April 30, 1929. w. D. BREwsTER 1,711,470

BRAKE OPERATING' DE'VICEFR FLT-CRS Fi 1red March 2,9, 1927 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES g v1,711,470 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. BREWSTER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T NATIONAL BRAKE COMPANY INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

BRAKE-OPERATING- DEVICE FOR FLAT CARS.

Application filed March 29, 1927'. Serial No. 179,278.

This invention relates to al brake-operat ing device for fiat cars in which 'the winding drum for the bralrepperating cable together with suitable gears are mounted within and upon a supporting frame which is secured to the underside of the frame work for the platform of the car and is provided with journal bearings for receivingand supporting an upright tubular shaft in which is l0 mounted an upright brake staff having spline connections with the interior of the tubular shaft for rotating said shaft and permitting the staff to be adjusted kendwise to ldifferent heights relatively to the upper surface of .i5 the platform `of the car, the shaft serving" to transmit rotary motion to thefgears and windingl drinn for the cable.

rShe main object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the brake stall' may be easily and quickly adjusted vertically to its extreme apposition or to an extreme down-position so that its upper'end will lie close to the upper surface of the platform of the car` so that it may be operated at different levels for transmitting a rotary motion to the winding drum for the cable as may be required under different circumstances or, if necessary, the brake staff may be dropped to its extreme lower position to permit freight carried by the platform of the car to extend over the upper endof the staff. One of the specific objects isto provide means whereby, whenthe brake staff is adjusted endwise to one position, the spline connections will be disengaged thus permitting angular adjustment of the brakey stad relatively to the tubular shaft for re-engagement with a. suitable stop or rest by r`slight 'endwise adjustment to another position for holding said staff in the lastnamed position. Another object-is to lprovide the frame with a displaceable journal-bearing rfor the tubular shaft to enable said shaft withjthe A pinion thereon to be placed in operative position on the' frame.

Other objects and uses relating to 'specific Y `parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure lis a top plan, partly in section, of a brake-operating device embodying the various features of myY invention. i

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of linev:2 2, Figure 1,y except that a portion of the tubular sha-ft and brake staff are broken away.

Figures 3and 4C are enlarged transverse sectional views taken respectively in the planes of lines 3 3 and 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 5 5, Figure 2.

Figure 6` is an enlarged transverse seotional view of the detached brake staff.

Figure 7, is an enlarged transverse sec-y and lower and upper bearings 3 and l some distauce'to one side of the bearing shaft 2 l' This frame is preferably made of cast metal and adapted to be bolted or otherwisesecured to the` underside of the frame worlrof the platform as A of the carV shown by dotted lines in Figure 2 and pref:V

ings in the top and bottom bars 5 and 6 and if desired may be held against turning by a cross pin 7 .extend1ng through registering apertures in the lowerl 2 are secured in vertically alined openend of the shaft 2 and bottom bar 6 The journal bearings 3 and Q are arranged in vertically spaced relation, they bearing 4 being displaceable from the top portion of the frame l butv is normallyl held in operative position by a locking pin or key An eccentric'drum Q is ournaled upon the upright shaft '2- between the top and bottom bars 5 and 6 of the frame 1 and is held against axial movement by the engagement of its opposite ends with said` base.

A rcable consisting, in this instance, of a chain lO- is connected at one end to the periphery ofthe eccentric portion ofthe drum Q to be wound thereonas the drum is rotated in one direction, the other end of .The drum Q is provided with a'relatively large 'gear llmeshing with a pinion 12 which is normally interposed between the lower and upper' bearings --3- and -4- and is held against endwise nievement by engagement with the inner ends of said bearings.

, rl`his pinion is rigidly secured to 'and may be formed integralwith an upright tubular shaft '13- which extends some distance above and below the upper and lower ends of the pinion and is journaled in the bear ings -3- and sk-for rotating the pinion -12--, gear -llw and drum "9.

Vlhen placing the tubular shaft il with the pinion l2- thereon in operativel position the bearing section lof the top har -5- is removed after removing the looking pin -8- whereupon the lower end of the tubular shaft is inserted'n the lower bearing 3- so that the lower end of the pinion may rest upon the upper end of said bar after which the bearing member iM is replacedin operative position over the upper end of the tubular shaft and locked in position by the key or pin -lto assist the lower vbearing in holdingl the tubular shaft in an upright position.

A brake staff -l4- is slidable endwise of and within the tubular shaft l-w and is provided at its upper end with a hand wheel -lby which it may be rotated.

Rotary motion transmitted from the statt' il to the tubular shaft through the medium of spline connections between the statt and interior of the shaft which also permits axial adjustment of the staff to different levels as may be required for convenience of operation or for convenience of loading and unloading freight upon and from the platform of the ear.

' endwiseto a certain position and therel Suitable means is also provided for permitting angular adjustment of the stall rela-- tively to Y the tubular shaft when adjusted y to cooperate with means for holding the stai-'' in an elevated position by a limited endwise adjustment to another position, said staff and shaft being provided with cooperative means Vfor limiting the angular adjustment of the stall' when adjusted endwise to its turning position relatively to the shaft.

I have preferably provided the statiY and shaft with axially spaced spline connections and with intervening reduced portions and enlarged interior portions so that when the staff is adjusted to a certain position both spline connections will be disengaged and the reduced portion of the stall registered with one of the splines in the upper end of the shaft to permit said angular movement.

That is, the tubular shaft 1S- is provided with internal lengthwise ways or grooves --l6-V preferably of rectangular cross section and arranged at thefour corners of a square extending upwardly Vfrom the lower end thereof and terminating a relatively short distance froin they upper end mirare thereby forming what may be termed arec'- tangular or square opening or spline-way while the upper end of the same shaft is provided with a central rectangular opening 17- in` axially spaced relation to and of substantially the same cross sectional forni as the spline-way 16- to formanother spline-way in axially spaced relation to the first-named spline-way, the intervening portion of the interior between the splinesways being enlarged at --18- and of greater radius than the raiiliusthrough any one of the four corners of the first-named spline-way 1G-- for a purpose presently described.

rl`he major portion of the staff -141- from the wheel mdownwardly is rectangular or square in cross section corresponding approximatelyto the cross sectional form of the spline-ways *1G-fand '17- `along' which it is adapted to move endwise for transmitting rotary motion from the staff to the tubular shaft and constituting what may be termed a spline or key -l9-.

The lower end of the sta-tl' 14.- is provided with. a substantially rectangular head vOm which mainly square and of substanti ally the same radius through its corners as the eorresi'ionding radii of the spline-way -l6 along which it adapted to move endwise to assist in transmitting rotary motion from the staff to the tubular shaft and constituting what may be termed another spline.

'.lhese splines -19 and -20- are arranged in axially spaced. relation and the intervening portion 21- thereof'is reduced and preferably cylindrical or of less eross sectional area than that of spline-ways 1G- and -l'-- The length of the spline head is somewhat less than the axial length of the enlarged opening 18- while the length of the cylindrical portion -Qlis somewhat greatthan the length of the splinewvay 17- so that when the spline ll-iis adjusted up# wardly to register the cylindrical portion mQlwith the spline-way #17w the spline head 20- will be brought into registration with the enlarged opening -18- thus per mitting angular adjustment of the staff relatively to the tubular shaft for a purpose presently described.

@n the other-hand,ewhen the staff -19- is adjusted to bring the cylindrical portion H21- below the spline-way V-lithe square portions v19-v and --2()` will be engaged with their respective splinewaysland #lG- for transmitting rotary motion to the tubular shaft.

Suitable means is provided for limiting the angular movement of the staff '14- relatively to the tubular shaft h-13`-- through an are of Vapproxiinately ninetyjdegrees when the spline head --2O-` isregistered withthe enlarged openingfdfand for this 'purpose two diametrically opposite portions of the init-rio wvays -16-- form additional stop shoulders adapted to he engaged by the splines 1.9- and -20- when the staif is adjusted rotarily in one direction as shown in Figure 3.

The interior of the tuhular shaft -13- is also provided with diametrically opposite grooves or key ways -23- extending from Y its lower end to the enlargement -l8-, said shaft being also provided with diametrically opposite but relatively short lengthwise grooves `24` extending from the enlargement 1Sw downwardly a distance corresponding approximately tothe length of the spline head 20- and constituting additional key-ways.

rihel grooves -Qllare disposed substantially midway between the grooves H23- and all of the grooves -23- and 2dare substantially semi-circular in'crcss section.

The bottoms of the grooves 244- constitute seats or almtn'ients --25- upon which the lower end of the staff -lQ- is adapted tores-t when adjusted tothe position shown in Figure 2.

The spline head -QO--fo'n the lower end of the staff 1Q- is provided with keys or ribs -26-- on two of its diametricallyopposite sides and of substantially the same cross sectional form the grooves -23- and -24- in which they are adapted to engage when the staff A19- is adjusted axially and rotarily to different positions.

For example, when it is desired to drop the staff from its uppermost position as shown in Figure 2 to its lowermost positionit will tirst loe elevated to fregister the cylindrical portion 21- with the spline-way -l7- and its spline head -20- with the enlargement -18- whereupon the staif may be adjusted angularly to bring its keys or ribs 26- into registration with the grooves *n3- at whichl time further rotation in the same direction will be limited the engagement of the corners of the head -20- with corresponding sides of the .spline-ways i6- -whereupon the staif may be lowered to its extreme down-position or until the hand wheel v-lis nearly at the level of the platform A of the car. Y

On the other hand, when it is desired to use the staff in its extreme elevated position it would be drawn upwardly until the cylindrical portion -21 is registered with the spline-.way --17--` at which time the head -20- will be registered with the enlargement -18- thus permitting the angular adjustment of the staff until limited by the en- Y gagement of the ribs 26 with the shoulders -22- and in registration with the relatively short grooves -24-- thus permitting the staff to be slightly lowered until limited. by the engagement of the lower ends ofthe ribsA e264- with the seats or abutments -25-. v

It will be seen from the foregoing description that when the brake staff -l9-- is seated on the abut-ments 425- and also whenl it is dropped to its extreme down-position it will have axially spaced spline connections with the tubular shaft 13- alcove and below the enlargement -18- for transmitting rotary motion therefrom to the shaft -l3 and thence through'the pinion -12- and gear -11 to the wheel drum -'9- for the cable -10- for tightening and releasing the brake.

Owing to the vfactthat the ribs -26'a are formed up on the brake staff .liit becomes necessary to insert the brake staff from ,the bottom upwardly through the tubular shaft H13- before the vhand wheel '-ieis attached tothe upper end of the staff land after the upper end of the staif passes through and labove the upper end of the shaft, the hand wheel 15-r is secured. thereto asv shown in Figure 2.

lt will be observed that when thc brake stati ie supported in its uppermost position in the grooves 2A-,- as shown in Figure 3 it l# may be lowered to its extreme low position or until the hand wheel-lrests upon the upper end face of the shaft -l3- by first lifting the staifto register its cylindrical part 21- with the spline way -17- which will Cil also register the head 420+ with the enlargements -21- whereupon the staff may be turned,counterclockwise to bring its ribs -26- into registration with the grooves Q3- the staff being then free to drop by its own weight to its lowermost position.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood and while the construction shown and described isparticularly simple and efficient .itis evident that various changes may be made in the detail construc-v Amounted on the frame and provided with a reduced angular opening in its upper end, a

drop-staff having a portion thereofof similar A angular cross-section slidable endwise in said opening to cause the staif and shaft to rotate 'together` said staff having a portion thereof to register its reduced portion with the an-` gular opening. f Y

2. In a brake-operating devlcefor iatcars,

a frame. an upright tubular shaftV rotatably mounted on the frame, a drop staffl slidable endwise of and within the tubular shaft,v said shaft and statt' having axially spaced splineconnections one with the other to cause them to rotate together, the interior of the portion of the shaft andexterior of the portion of staff between the spline-connections being req speotively enlarged and reduced to permit relative angular movement of those parts when the staff is adjusted endwise to a certain Josition and means for limitinf said relativev angular movement. j

3. A brakepperating device for flat cars as in claim 2 in which means is provided for holding the staff against downward movement when adjusted endwise to another position when said relative angular movement reaches its limit. Y

4. In a brake-operating device for viiat cars, a frame, an upright rotary tubular shaft jonrnaled in the frame7 means for holding the shaft against endwise movement relatively to said frame, a brake staff' slidable endwise of and within the shaft, spline conneetionsrbetween portions of the staff and shaft to cause them t-o rotate together when the staff is adusted endwise to a eertain position, other portions of said shaftand staff being without spline connections for permitting angular movement of the statt relatively to the shaft when the staff is adusted endwise to another position, cooperative stops on the shaft and staff for limitingsaid angular adjustment when the staff is in thelast-named position, and cooperative means on the shaft and staff for holding the staif against downward movement when the spline connections are engaged in one position of axial adjustment.

5. In a brake-operating device for flat cars, a frame, an upright tubular shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, and an operating stan1 having separate axially spaced spline bearings, an upright tubular shaftjournaled in said bearings, one of said bearings being displaceable to permit the placement of the shaft in the other hearing,arbrakestaif slid able endwise of and Within the shaft, spline connections between the shaft and staffl Vto cause them to rotate together when the statt is adjusted endwise to a certain position, other portions of the shaft and staff being without spline connections for permitting angular adjustment of the. staff relatively to the shaft when the staff is adjusted endwise to another positionl` cooperative stops .on the shaft and staff for limiting said angular adjustment when the stati? is in the last-named position, and means for holding the staff against downward movement when adjusted endwise to said last-named position following the limiting of its angular adjustment.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of March. 1927.

WILLIAM D.V BREWSTER. 

